The members of BTS will soon be performing military duties instead of catchy pop songs.
South Korea’s Defense Ministry said Thursday it will not be revising its exemption rules for compulsory military service, meaning RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook will have to register.
The country’s law requires males to register to start their military service by the time they are 28. There are exemptions – but not for K-pop stars. (BTS accounts for $6 billion of South Korea's GDP).
Jin, the oldest member of BTS, turns 27 next month.
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As of June 2020, the term of military service will be 18 months, down from two years.
The head of BTS’s label Big Hit Entertainment told The Hollywood Reporter in October: “The company believes military service is a duty, and we will try to show the fans the best of BTS until, and after, the members have fulfilled their service duties.”